We here at Deal Divas proclaim to be champions of the craft. Bold denizens of sale racks. Lovers of scrimped style. We are friends, but we can still throw down, and it was time for an old-fashioned fight to the death. Who was the World's Best Bargain Shopper?

The challenge was supremely American. In this era of blind consumption, people take binders of coupons to the grocery store. They hoard until they're surrounded and can't remember why. The Deal Divas don't endorse buying things just because they're on sale, but to truly sharpen our saving skills, we would have to channel that spirit of reckless consumer patriotism.

Last week, Deal Diva Kameel and I met at Target in St. Pete during lunch. It was the perfect place for random discounts, a red maze of end caps and odd distractions. First lady Michelle Obama can't even stay away. We agreed on terms. We'd split up and reconvene in the food area next to the old man slurping coffee in 30 minutes to declare a winner. The prize was unwavering bragging rights and self-respect. Fine, maybe not self-respect. That ship sailed long ago.

Kameel sunk coolly into the clothing department, and I branched into the accessories. I considered an inexplicable clip-on furry tail marked from $12.99 to $9.08 (who on Earth?). Then I felt my instincts rev. Nay, my trophy wouldn't be among the cheap crap. Chintzy impulse items have smaller markdowns because you're already likely to buy them. True percentage slashing would happen on big tickets.

Bingo. In electronics sat a Blackberry charger marked from $64.99 to $16.24. Never mind it didn't work without the power mat for $69.99. As we said, this was not about logic.

With five minutes to spare, I locked eyes with Kameel, sussing out a tote bag, a baby bottle carrier and a reversible duvet cover. She furrowed her brow, stuck two fingers toward her eyes and jammed them back at me.

Plagued by jitters, I swung by the shoe department and found hideous outdoor adventure sandals from Swiss Gear on mega-clearance. With a minute to spare, I ran back to the old man at the popcorn stand, lugging both the Blackberry dock and the shoes.

Kameel sauntered over with a CD entitled Sweet Lady Smooth R&B, $2.24. So confident! So cool!

She pulled out her iPhone and plugged in our figures down to the penny.

Blackberry dock: 75.012 percent off.

Ugly shoes: 75.021 percent off.

Sweet Lady Smooth R&B CD: 75.083 percent off.

Defeated!

We agreed to put the stuff back. This was a fun exercise, but keeping the Swiss Gear shoes would not only usher us closer to hoarding, it would kill our style credential. And neither of us even had a Blackberry.

Except ...

The Sweet Lady Smooth R&B CD was kind of awesome. Tyrese. D'Angelo. Mariah Carey. TLC. You couldn't download all that sexy music for $2.24. We decided to split the cost and burn an extra copy, recalculating our discount en route to checkout counter. Total savings of 87.52 percent.

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.